The following transcription was submitted by Helen S. Durbin of Greene
Co., PA for inclusion at the Genealogy
in Washington Co., PA web site in October 1998.
Friday, July 1, 1898
Donley
Mangus Shaler has finished work on a sheep shed on the farm of William
Mehaffey.
Mr. And Mrs. Henry Chapman spent Friday at Mrs. Jane Sheller.
Billy Miller has been out driving in a fine buggy that he purchased from
George Sprowls.
Friday July 8, 1898
Henry Chapman sold a flock of sheep to John Cunningham at $3.25 per
head; another flock to Joe Cunningham at $4.00 per head.
Friday, July 15, 1898
West Alexander
Parker McCammon, of Wheeling, was a guest in town on Sabbath last.
Mrs. J.K. Davis of Wheeling Island, is spending the week with her
grandmother, Mrs. Mary Gilfillan.
Coon Island
Miss Bessie Supler gave a party at her home on Monday evening to a
number of the young folks of the neighborhood in honor of her guest,
Miss Mary Rufus, Moundsville. There were thirty guests present and all
spent an enjoyable evening.
Claysville
Elmer Duck, returned to the oil fields at Metz, W.Va., Monday, after
being home on account of the illness of one of his children.
Friday, July 22, 1898
Donley
The Zion Reunion
The reunion of the old members of Zion United Brethern church and the
people of the community in general will be held on Saturday, August 6,
in Henry Chapman's woods, near the church. The program will be given
next week. People attending should bring their dinners and spend the
entire day. On the forenoon 2 short addresses will be given. In the
afternoon there will be recitations, singing, and stories of long ago
will be told by the older citizens. A short Sermon will also be preached
especially for the aged folks by the pastor of Zion church, Rev. George
C. Cooke, Anthony A. Mealy has consented to act as chairman of the day.
Friday, July 29, 1898
Donley
The threshing firm of Slater and Miller has bought a new Champion thresher.
Friday, August 5, 1898
A.C. Chapman of Claysville, visiting at Henry Chapman's.
George Keenan A well-knnown citizen of Acheson, was found dead in his
bed, Monday morning, August 1, 1898. The trouble is supposed to have
been heart disease and he was about 76 years of age. Mr. Keenan had
retired in his usual health. His daughter, Miss Blanche, passed through
his room, and laid a paper over his face. The morning milking and other
work was done and Mr. Keenan, not having arisen, it was discovered that
he was dead, and had probably expired, the early part of the night. He
is survived by his wife, (nee Adams) and nine children. Mrs. W. Meloy,
Blaine township; Mrs. Hattie Adams and George A. Keenan, Independence
township; "Shimp" of Washington; Clark Hensly and Misses Blanche, Cora
and Bessie at home. He was a member of Zion U.B. Church. The funeral
services took place on Wednesday at 10 a.m. conducted by Rev. Frank
Fish.
Friday August 12, 1897
Local
B.L. Chapman left Monday morning for Bethesda, Ohio and will return with
his family, Miss Celia Wilson is clerking in the store during his
absence.
Friday, August 12, 1898
Donley
The Old Folks Reunion
Those in charge of the reunion of the old citizens at Zion made a wise
choice in selection Saturday as the date of that event. The day was a
fine one for the purpose between 400 and 500 people where brought
together and spent a delightful day. Throughout the affair was entirely
was entirely successful: West Middletown, Taylorstown, West Alexander
and Claysville were well represented. Entirely fitting was the selection
of A.A. Mealy, aged 83, as chairman. No one would have thought, from his
composure, that he was the same person who had shown so much anxiety
about not getting out in time to get his share of fried chicken and
began the exercises. It was held in the grove near the church. Seat were
arranged just below the speakers stand. The chair was stationed on the
ground and interspersed music during the exercises. Rev. J.A. Craig made
the opening prayers. Tom C. Snodgrass welcomed the people in a neat
speech. Ill health absenting Rev. J.W.W. Wilson, Rev. W.H. Kirkland made
a Timely response. Miss Emma Sawhill was ill and unable to attend.
The dinner was a good one, with ample provision for all. A social hour
succeeded the dinner.
At 2 o'clock the afternoon exercises began.
Rev. Kirkland offered a prayer and Miss Effie Sargeant gave a
recitation, "The Battle of Manila," and Miss Susie Brockman recited,
"Remember the Maine." Both were good. Daniel Sheller, aged 82, sand a
song in German, "Christ on the Cross." On account of his wife taking a
sudden sick spell, Prof. J.D. Trussell was unable to be present, though
prepared for his address on "School Houses and School Days of Long Ago."
Rev. G.W. Birch,D.D., represented his father, Hon. John Birch, and made
a pleasing talk, recounting the old school songs and the Dutch Fork
people he knew as a boy. Brief talks were made by these aged citizens:
Daniel Sheller, David Winters, G.W. Ritchey and George Plants. The
latter showed an old ink bottle and spelling book used during his school
days. Rev. George C. Cooke gave a "Historical Sketch of the Old
Citizens, Old times and The Beginning of Zion Church." He said: It is
rather difficult for us who are young in years to go back a century or
more and gather facts when scarcely any record has been kept. Of course
a great many of the old citizens are forgotten.
Among the first of the pioneers was William Sheller, one of the early
settlers of Donegal township, who was born in Germany, in 1746, and died
in 1816. He was a member of the German Reformed church and was buried in
Zion graveyard. He was grandfather of Daniel Sheller.
Another of the old pioneers was Christopher Winter, born in Germany in
1752, and came to this area as a young man. He was married and settled
down on the farm now owned by F.W. Lindville. He donated the ground
which now stands the church and school house and was looked upon as the
father of Zion church. He was the grandfather of David Winters. He died
in 1823, and was buried in the Zion graveyard.
Hootman, whose name became quite prominent in story, was also a citizen
of Donegal township and of German birth. He served as a Hessian soldier
in the day of the British and came here during the Revolutionary war.
However, as soon as an opportunity presented itself, the brave young
German deserted the British ranks, and enlisted as a drummer boy with
the patriots in their struggle for liberty. At the close of the war he
remained in America and located here about 1780, where he remained until
his death in 1859, after a life of nearly a century, he was laid to rest
on his own farm just below Dunsfort. He was one of the oldest members of
the church.
Daniel Rice, upon whos farm Rice's Fort was located, was for many years
a leader in the Old German Reformed church.
Perry McCoy should not be forgotten. He lived on his farm near Acheson.
Wolfgang Newcomer, who was Bishop of the U.B. church and who traveled as
an evangelist from 1795 to 1830, often stayed with him overnight, as
mentioned by him in his journal.
In the early days, and among the earliest settlers were the Deeds, and
Millers, Capt. Jake Miller, William Barnhart, David Simmons, Andrew
Deeds. The people at this time were hospitable, as Rev. John Fahl, one
of our early preachers says, every cabin door open for our reception.
The people often came to preaching through the woods from 5 or 6 miles
carrying their guns with them. The Indians were numerous in those days
as well as dangerous.
After sketching the churches, etc., the following menus were given: For
breakfast: potato soup, coffee, corn bread, and butter. For dinner:
sauer kraut, fat flitch, milk and bread. For supper: Johnny cake, mush
and lots of beef.
All the preaching out of this settlement was in German in the early days
and the first English preacher sent by the conference was Rev. John
Wallace, a Scotchman, who came about 1830. He held services in the frist
church built on this ground, constructed of hewed loge, two stories, and
a large gallery.
In 1803, great revivals took place through their section under the
preaching of Rev.'s Fremmer, Berger and Newcomer, all United Brethern
preachers, who used both German and English. Rev. Jacob Winter was
probably the most efficient pioneer evangelist of that time. He was born
in this county in 1780 and licensed to preach in 1808. The U.B. church
was established in Western Pennsylvania largely through his
instrumentality.
Under the pastorate of Jacop Ritter, in 1839, on account of charge of
discipline and its enforcement, a dissension took place and one party
built a new church on the Mehaffey farm and afterward vacated. The
present church was built in 1859. End.
Friday, August 19, 1898
Local
E.E. Duck came up from Metz, W.Va., Saturday to spend a short shut down.
Attorney H. L. Kirk returned to Parkersburg, Monday, after calling upon
his friends.
Rev. W.E. Henry and wife, at Waynesburg, are spending a few days at the
home of Matthias Rush.
Thomas Chapman and sister Lena, of Sugar Grove, were guests of B.L.
Chapman and wife last week.
Friday, August 26, 1898
Donley
A.C. Chapman was a delegate to the Democratic Convention at Washington,
Monday.
Mr. And Mrs. Chapman leave this week for an extended visit through the
west.
A.L. Chapman, of Evanston, Ill, expects to be at Dutch Fork, Sept. 4.
Daniel McPherson is having his house, barn, and other buildings painted.
Ross and Noble, of Claysville, are doing the work.
Friday, August 26, 1898
West Alexander
Funeral of Mrs. Carrie L. Henderson, wife of Thomas Henderson, took
place Wednesday; interment in the cemetery here. She was a daughter of
A.W. Kimmons, of this place.
A.McConn of Elm Grove, spent Sabbath with his brothers, Thomas and James
McConn.
James P. Reed, of near this place, who has been suffering from fever, we
are glad to report is improving.
Local
Notice-My wife has left my bed and board and notis is hereby given that
I will pay no debts contracted by her. Frank Mustard, Claysville, Pa.
Beham
Samuel McNinch, of West Alexander, and C.A. Chapman and John W. Sliffe,
of Claysville, were guests of friends here this week.
Local
J.A. Hamilton of Pittsburgh, who is on his way to Denver, Colo., for the
benefit of his health, visited his sister, Mrs. Elmer Duck, Saturday and
Sunday.
Mortuary Record, Friday, August 26, 1898
Mrs Theodore Henderson
Mrs. Carrie Lee, wife of Theodore Henderson, died at her home here,
Monday night, August 22, 1898, of consumption aged 35 years. She leaves
besides her husband, two children, Ralph and Lillian. She was a daughter
of A.W. Kimmons, of West Alexander, and a sister of Mrs. William
McCausland, of Washington. Mrs. Henderson was held in high esteem by
those who knew her.
She was a member of the Presbyterian church in this place. Funeral
services were conducted at her late home on Wednesday morning, by Rev.
Frank Fish, assisted by Rev. Ad. Craig. The interment was in West
Alexander Cemetery. Rev. Lester officiating.
Friday, September 2, 1898
Rev. Andrew L. Chapman is expected home from Evanston, Illinois, on
Saturday morning. It may not be generally known that sometime ago "Andy"
proposed the question "wilt thou?" to a young lady, and she said she
would. The young lady in question was Miss Mae C. Childs, of Greensburg,
Indiana So on, Thursday, September 1st, they were united in marriage at
the home of the bride who accompanies him on his trip here. They will be
guests of John Holmes for a few days, when they leave for Washington
City in company with Miss Nannie Chapman on a visit to his sister's,
Misses Dessie and Florence.
Mrs. Chapman is a graduate of Bethany College, and has also taken a
course in a training school for nurses, and will be well fitted for the
duties devolving upon her as a missionary's wife. Rev. chapman will
preach at Dutch Fork Christian Church on Sunday and this will probably
be the last opportunity his friends in this section will have of hearing
him before his departure for Constantenople.
Fridday, September 9, 1898
[Nothing of interest this day. ]
Friday, September 16, 1898
[Nothing of interest this day.]
Friday, September 30, 1898
Sherman McConn left Monday for New Canton, Illinois to resume his work
on a dairy farm, where he spent several winters.
Friday, October 7, 1898
Local
P.R. Chapman and wife, of Sugar Grove, have returned after a weeks visit
to friends here.
Friday, October 14, 1898
Donely
Henry Chapman and wife have returned from an extended tour through some
of the western states. Henry reports an excellent time.
Mag. Shaler shot a hawk last week which measured four feet, six inches
from tip to tip.
Friday, October 21, 1898
Donley
John Cunningham is making some necessary repairs on the Brown school
house.
William Miller is having a new residence erected this fall. Magnus
Shaler, contractor.--Publishers
Friday, October 28, 1898
Taylorstown
E.E. Duck, and family moved from Claysville to this place last Monday.
Friday, November 4, 1898
West Alexander
A.W. Kimmins, proprietor of the Hotel Central with his family removed
Monday to Allegheny, where he will engage in a semilar business. Sam'l
Morrison, a son in law, of Mr. Kimmins will have charge of Hotel Central
this winter.
Mrs. James McConn and daughter, Margaret, spent Tuesday with friends in
Wheeling.
Friday, November 11, 1898
Donley
Mrs. Frye, of near Beham, is spending a few weeks at the home of her
son-in-law, Noah Miller. She is confined to her room with rheumatism.
Friday, December 9, 1898
Roney's Point
Miss Margaret Supler, formerly of this place died at her home in
Wheeling on the 27th of November. Interment in Elm Grove Cemetery.
Friday, January 6, 1899
Mrs. John Crow
On Wednesday, December 14, Miss Nellie Marinda, a highly esteemed young
lady, became the happy bride of John Crow, at Sherrard, W.Va., on
Tuesday, morning the 3rd, she lay at death's embrace, a sorrowful end to
a honeymoon promising a happy wedded life. They came to this place on a
visit to M.C. Crow, of near town. Mrs. Jacob Miller, near Dunsfort, and
other relative, and it was Mrs. Miller's home her death occurred, from
typhoid-pneumonia, after an illness of 10 days, aged about 22 years. The
funeral took place on Thursday. Interment at Sherrard. She was a
faithful member of the M.E. Church there and a teacher in the Sunday
School. Mr. Crow's many friends sympathize with him deeply in his sudden
affliction.
Friday, January 13, 1899.
West Alexander
Nancy Sheller has gone to spend the winter with her sister, Mrs. Mary
Mehaffy, near Dunsfort.
Taylorstown
Elmer Duck went to Mannington Thursday to work in that field.
Friday, January 20, 1899
Mrs. Margaret M'Adoo
Mrs. Margaret, relect of the late John McAoo of Donegal township died at
the home of her daughter, Mrs. Sarah Jane McAdoo, near Wellsburg, on
Wednesday, January 11, 1899, of grip, aged 79 years. Mrs. McAdoo was
married twice, the first time to George Anderson, and in 1865, was
married to John McAdoo. Her maiden name was Miller. Funeral services
were held at the home of hers on, Henry on Friday, conducted by Rev.
Tilock of the Dutch Fork Christian Church of which she was a constant
member. The interment was at Zion. She is survived by three sons and a
daughter. Mrs. McAdoo, of Brook County, W.Va., joseph Anderson, of
Donegal township, and George Anderson of Claysville.
Friday, January 24, 1899
The funeral of James McCammon, of near this place, occurred Wednesday
from his late home. He had been suffering from kidney trouble several
years. Deceased was 84 years old. Beside the aged widow, surviving are
Robert, of Ohio; Parker, of Wheeling; john, George, Craven and Lester of
near this place, and Mrs. John Rodgers with whom the parents resided, is
the only daughter. He was a consistent member of the Presbyterian
Church, his pastor, Rev. Lester, conducted the services.
Friday, February 10, 1899
Reminiscences of the
Local Pioneer Life,
by Dr. J.C. Hupp.
Addition to Frank Hupp Story
About three miles south of West Alexander, Pennsylvania and on the right
bank of Middle Wheeling Creek, and on the land now owned by the Robert
Erskine heirs, was the site of Links cabin. We were once piloted by S.M.
Bell, Esq., and the venerable William Porter, Sr. to the spot where 120
years ago, this rude cabin stood. Traces of its ruins were still to be
seen.
It stood only a few feet from the West Virginia line.
Hawkins' cabin stood a few feet south of there the National Road is now,
located, within easy view of Vienna, on the B. & O. Railroad, and near
the foot of what is known as "Hawkin's Hill" on land owned by George
Cunningham. The stable on the north side of the road here was
constructed of the logs from this ancient cabin. This infant was William
Hawkins, who was County Surveyor of Washington County, from 1809 to 1815.
Link was not so successful as Miller in his endeavors to escape. He was
dragged along with the Indians to their villages beyond the Ohio, and
tradition says that some two weeks after his capture he was brought back
in to the neighborhood and taken upon the hill back of his own cabin,
and in full view of it; where he was set up as a target and shot by the
Indians. His remains were enterred by the side of those of Hupp and
Fisher, and about midway between his cabin and the creek. The cut
through the county road has disturbed the supulchre of these pioneer
martyrs. Here at the roadside the venerable William Porter, Sr., has
frequently picked portions of human bones out of the crumbling bank.
Miss Hawkins was carried by her captors to their haunts in the interior
of Ohio. Here she was led in triumpt to the wigwam and with due form and
ceremony adopted into the tribe. She soon learned to reciprocate that
disinterested tenderness with which she was so affectionately loved by
the mother of her adoption.
Many years after she had been wedded to Shawnee Chief, she returned to
the neighborhood on a visit to her pale-faced relatives. But the dull
monotony of civilized life having lost all charms for her, she soon
returned to her wild Indian home.
The "Old Gun" and ermnants of the equipments carried by Jacob Rowe on
this occasion are now in the possession of the writer of this narrative.
Friday, March 10, 1899
Donley
Christopher Shaler, an old citizen to make his home with his son, John
Shaler.
Alexander Chapman is a guest at Henry Chapman's.
Shaler's removed their sawmill this week from Wilson Linville's to the
Mehaffey farm.
Friday, March 31, 1899
Easter Sunday, 1782,
At Miller's Blockhouse
on Dutch Fork,
by Dr. J.C. Hupp
In the spring of 1782, Indian hostilities commenced much earlier that
usual along the western frontier, as early as the month of March, hordes
of savages were ascertained to have crossed the Ohio and were making
their way into the settlements.
The settlement, thus threatened with the massacres, plunderings,
burning, and captivities with which they already become accustomed to
were filled with spirit and excitement, conmingled with alarm. In this
predicament of apprehension and danger, the settlers along the Buffalo
valley betook themselves, with their families, to the forts and
blockhouses. About three miles north east of West Alexander, Washington
County, Pennsylvania, on the bank of the Dutch Fork, of Buffalo, is a
peninsular formed by the meandering creek on the one side Miller's run
on the other side. The isthmus next to the run is skirted by a narrow
strip of bottom land which expands to many acres towards the creek, and
its confluence with the run. The side of the isthmus washed by the creek
has a bold, precipitous bluff. On this isthmus was located Miller's
Blockhouse, was besieged by a party of about seventy Shawnees on Easter
Sunday, [April 7,] 1782.
With their characteristic cunning and caution the Indians arrived in the
vicinity the night previously distributing themselves in ambush around
the blockhouse, and along the paths leading there to. Thus lying
concealed among the bushes or "pea vines," they awaited the operation of
circumstances.
Nearly all of the men were absent from the blockhouse on this occasion;
some of them, being at rice's Fort, which was about two miles further
down the creek of this fact the Indians most likely were apprised, and
on this account the attack on the blockhouse is sup- [rest gone will add
later]